Remember that "dream team" of ex-Apple employees who promised to revolutionise tech? Buckle up, because their story is a cautionary tale for designers everywhere. Let's dissect the spectacular implosion of Humane and their flagship product, the aptly named "Pin."
The Allure of Ditching the Phone (Except, You Can't)
Humane pitched the Pin as the ultimate phone slayer - a sleek, wearable AI assistant that would liberate us from our pocket tyrants. Sounds amazing, right? Here's the hitch: they priced it at a cool $700 (with a wink and a nudge towards Hermes, we presume) and then slapped on a mandatory $24/month data plan. Ouch.
But wait, there's more! This "independence" came with a hefty dose of irony. Without the data plan, the Pin couldn't access the cloud (goodbye picture sharing!), and its offline capabilities were as exciting as watching paint dry. So, essentially, you were paying a premium for a glorified spycam that wouldn't even let you see your own intel without... wait for it... your phone or laptop. Talk about a self-inflicted ecosystem trap.
Shiny on the Outside, Wonky on the Inside
Sure, the Pin looked like it belonged in a James Bond movie. But good looks don't win hearts (or wallets) if the brains behind the beauty are missing. Features like voice control and projector display seemed futuristic in the demo, but real users reported frustrating delays and limitations. It was like watching a magic trick where the rabbit never actually appears. (Except, in this case, the rabbit cost $750 million.)
The Price of Skipping User Testing
The Humane team, in their haste to be the next tech titan, seemingly skipped a crucial step: user testing. ♀️ A few hundred thousand dollars on a proper testing phase might have saved them, well, $750 million. Here's the thing: even the most advanced features are useless if they don't solve genuine user problems. ♀️
The Ironic Twist: Reinventing the Phone, One Expensive Pin at a Time
So, let's say Humane miraculously fixes all the UX issues, adds a screen, and partners with other companies to make the Pin useful. Guess what they've created? Yep, a phone. The very device they set out to replace.
This whole debacle is a masterclass in how good intentions and a hefty dose of arrogance can lead to epic tech fails. The Humane team might want to consider a career shift - perhaps something involving actual user interaction, like, say, bartending? At least there, they'd get immediate feedback (with a potential tip, if they listen).
